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View SlideshowRequest to buy this photoFRED SQUILLANTE | DISPATCHAnthony Hansen of Morro Bay, Calif., unpacks one of his hearts — which he fashions from scrap metal — inside his booth for the Columbus Arts Festival. The art show and sale Downtown runs today through Sunday.

Ashton Bushby loves taking pictures.

But the 11-year-old Columbus resident says packaging her work for sale is a totally different
beast.

“I’m nervous,” she said.

Bushby said she has made a conscious effort to price her art to be “affordable” so that “more
people could get my stuff.”

Her average price is about $100, though some framed works are more expensive. Some pieces cost
as little as $35. She plans to use the money to buy a computer or a new camera and save up for
college. Bushby is one of about 300 painters, photographers, sculptors, glass blowers and other
artists who will pack Downtown starting today for the Columbus Arts Festival. Artists from near and
far have set up their booths and are ready to make some cash this weekend.But some city leaders
have called for the arts council to strive to attract more artists like Bushby, whose work is
affordable to the average buyer. That, they say, would attract more visitors and support struggling
or up-and-coming artists.

“I know we took into consideration price points this year so people can afford to purchase the
pieces of art from these vendors,” Council-woman Eileen Y. Paley said at Monday’s city council
meeting. “So let’s support (vendors with lower prices) so they continue to come back and feed into
our economy and culture of arts.”

Councilwoman Priscilla Tyson, who runs an art gallery, said she is sure the arts council
recognized the need for a wide range of price points.

“There’s a lot of emerging artists this year,” Tyson said, “and their work is generally not so
expensive.”

Neither councilwoman said what price points they thought would be affordable.

Tyson stopped short of explaining what she thought “affordable” artwork was, saying “it’s all
relative.” Paley did not respond to calls seeking comment.

The festival judges have always opted for a healthy mix of prices for artwork, said Jami
Goldstein, vice president of marketing and communications for the Greater Columbus Arts
Council.

“ ‘Expensive’ is a perception,” Goldstein said. “We try our best to balance ... for people in
Columbus who are art collectors as well as folks who are on a budget — and that’s all doable
here."

The Columbus Arts Festival, mostly along Town and Main streets between Front Street and
Washington Boulevard, will take place today and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday from
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.